“In just two hours by plane from Belgium, we find ourselves in an ideal area for training, whether in terms of weather conditions, route, safety or infrastructure, explains Loïc Vliegen from Benissa, where he has been based since… November 15. Since then, I have only returned to Belgium twice: once to see my family and once to celebrate Christmas.adds the Wagner-Bazin WB runner, who rented an entire house to a certain… Jean-François Gillet (Standard goalkeeper coach). We went out for a bite to eat together a few months ago and he told me he owned this house on the Costa Blanca. I told him directly that it interested me because I had the ambition to have a very good, consistent winter after my complicated 2024 season. Here, I’m in my bubble and it’s rare not to be able to stick to your training program because of the weather.”
Between back injury and long Covid, Loïc Vliegen looks back on his difficult season: “I had the worst year of my career”
The double winner of the Tour de Wallonie is not the only one to have chosen the Spanish option. Arnaud De Lie also rented a house in the area in December. Some big names, like Mathieu van der Poel or Remco Evenepoel, actually own a residence on site. And others favored renting an apartment. This is the case of Lionel Taminiaux. “I rented an apartment in Dénia, in the hotel where the team (Lotto) usually completes his internships”explains Brabançon, who shares the place with his partner. History of combining business with pleasure.
A personal investment: “€4,000 rental for two months.”
But this obviously has a cost. “Renting the house cost me 4,000 euros for two months… and I got a very good priceby Loïc Vliegen. When we add the plane tickets to return for a few days and the rental of a car on site, essential in my case to go to supermarkets, this adds a little more to the envelope. But, in my opinion, it is a necessary investment for one’s job… even if we have already left often during the year. There are also less expensive options, with hotels costing around 50 euros per night with full board.”
It must be said that the region lives from its seaside resorts in summer, and from cycling in winter. Calpe also claims to be the most cycle-tourist city in Spain, and tourism has developed in this direction. The numerous cycling hotels, cycling cafés and bicycle shops are proof of this. Which necessarily reassures runners in the event of a problem. “There is always a store nearby in case of breakage or a fall.”admet Vliegen. “But since almost all the teams are in the region at the moment, there is always a mechanic we know in the area. There is a certain solidarity”adds Taminiaux.
-Undeniable mental freshness: “Fed up with outings in the rain”
Arnaud De Lie said it last week during the Lotto media day: having spent several weeks in Spain allowed him to train without drawing on his mental reserves. “I’m still as passionate about my job as ever, but I’m tired of long winter outings in the rain.”does not hide Vliegen, after a decade of professionalism.
If the organization on site (cooking, household chores, maintenance of equipment) necessarily costs a little energy, the vitamin D treatment does a lot of good for the head. But not only. “There is also a social aspect. The period before or after the internships is often more relaxedspecifies Taminiaux. Mentally, it’s always nicer to ride with whoever you want.” In particular, he rode several times with his former teammate Thomas De Gendt. Vliegen accompanied De Lie on a few occasions.
“But we also share the road with certain amateursfinishes Taminiaux. There are many Belgians living in the region (Editor’s note: 4,000 live in Calpe) or are on vacation. As a professional, we no longer come into contact with amateur cycling on a daily basis. We feel a lot of respect and sympathy.” Which is never unpleasant a few weeks before the start again.
